Charges brought against two men in connection with the Darren Sharper serial date rape case potentially could seal the fate of a life behind bars for the former NFL All-Pro defensive back.
Fox8live.com has reported that Sharper and two accomplices were indicted Friday on two counts of aggravated rape by an Orleans Parish Criminal Court grand jury.
Sharper faces two counts of aggravated rape and one count of simple rape, alleged accomplice Erik Nunez has been indicted on two counts of aggravated rape and one count of obstruction of justice, and former police officer Brandon Licciardi faces three counts of human trafficking and one count of aggravated rape and aggravated battery, according to Fox8live.com.
The indictment, the news report indicated, said that Licciardi "allegedly provided another person to Sharper or Nunez through fraud or forced to provide sexual conduct."
Darren Sharper's lawyer raises doubt in prosecution rape case
Sharper already is in prison for two rape charges in Los Angeles. He also has been charged with two counts of rape in Arizona and is suspected of raping two women in Las Vegas, although charges have yet to be filed there.
It is the indictments against the two other men that throw Sharper in greater risk of punishment, USA TODAY Sports reported.
"Until now, he didn't have two indicted co-defendants who might be enticed to cooperate with prosecutors," USA TODAY Sports reported. "The witnesses in the other cases primarily were the alleged victims - women who often had little or no memory of what happened after suspecting Sharper drugged them with spiked drinks."
New Orleans police originally filed arrest warrants against Sharper and Nunez in February over an event in September, 2013. The two men are accused of having sex with two women who were under the influence of an unknown substance.
Charges had not been filed in that case, according to USA TODAY Sports, fueling speculation that a lack of evidence existed that prevented the case from going any further.
Now, the New Orleans indictments put all three men in danger of serving life sentences. It's a stunning development for a former player with the New Orleans Saints, Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings that was an advocate for women's health issues.
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